Module Directory

Topics covered: general info on PhD process; writing successful research proposals and effectively preparing literature surveys; networking strategies (conference participation, summer schools, membership in research networks, etc--things that will help students to strengthen their CVs over time); preparing for fieldwork and data collection, and locating secondary data.

In addition, students are introduced to a range of theoretical paradigms and their empirical applications, as represented in the Department (through presentations by academic staff). Students are expected to present their research proposals for comments by the colloquium tutor and also by others in class.

Autumn Term

• Week 1
  
  
  
  • Introduction of the Colloquium:  
    
    
    
    • its main purposes and outline
    
    
    • PhD process:  specialization and choice/change of supervisor; progress board meetings; PhD planning and timing; funding PhD research
    
    
    • Reading: PGR Handbook
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Week 2
  
  
  
  • The What and How of  PhD Research Design: 
    
    
    
    • different purposes and strategies of research 
    
    
    • theoretical/conceptual framework of research 
    
    
    • Reading: issues to be included in a PhD research  design (tbd); C. Ragin, Constructing Social Research (1994), chaps 1 and 2; R. Merton, "The Bearing of Sociological Theory on Empirical Research" (Course Reader); A. Bryman, Social Research Methods (2004), students select chapters corresponding to their  (qualitative, quantitative, mixed) approach; 
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Weeks 3 - 4
  
  
  
  • Staff presentations of  theoretical approaches/concepts which inform their thinking about the social world and the impact thereof on their research
  
  
  • Open discussion
  
  
  
  


• Weeks 5 -6
  
  
  
  • Student  presentations of their  PhD topics and the conceptual frameworks, sources of data and research methods  informing their doctoral study 
  
  
  • Open discussion
  
  
  
  


• Weeks 7 - 8
  
  
  
  • Preparing a review of the literature and selecting sources of data: general guidelinesReading: - a sample of our PhD students' literature reviews (tbd) - critical assessment of sources: A. Bryman, "Documents as  Sources of Data"; "Narrative Approaches in  Social Analysis" Social Science History  special issue, 16(4) 1992; J.Milligan, "The  Treatment  of  Historical Sources"; K. Prewitt, "The Census Counts, the  Census Classifies"; M. Alvesson and K. Skoldberg, "Reflexive Methodology" (all in the Course Reader). 
  
  
  
  


• Week 9
  
  
  
  • Discussion of student literature reviews: themes, sources, connection to issues & arguments informing the thesis
  
  
  
  


•  Week 10
  
  
  
  • Locating yourself in the field: graduate workshops; summer schools; membership in professional associations; research networks; conference participation and presentation
  
  
  • Reading:  information about  our graduate workshops and conferences; ISA, ESA, BSA, ASA  etc; Essex summer school programmes; sociology journals (tbd)
  
  
  
  

SPRING TERM

• Week 16
  
  
  
  • Student presentations of their expanded research designs
  
  
  • Open discussion
  
  
  
  


• Week 17
  
  
  
  • Student presentations  of their expanded  reviews of literature (themes, sources, selection criteria, critical assessment)
  
  
  • Open discussion
  
  
  
  


• Week 18
  
  
  
  • Preparation for Fieldwork: Issues and Challenges (1)
  
  
  • Reading: - R. Merton, "The Bearing of Empirical Research  on Sociological Theory" (Course Reader #1)
  
  
  • Sloman Library -short loan:
    -M. Dalton, Men Who Manage (1961) - G. Suttles, The Social Order of the Slum (1968) -R. Bellah, Tokugawa Religion (1973) -J. Eade, ed. Living the Global City. Globalization as a Local Process (1997),  4 selected  chaptersEach student selects  and presents in  class one of the above readings in relation to issues relevant to h/h own PhD project (parts of the books may be divided between people who choose the same reading)
  
  
  
  


• Week 19
  
  
  
  • Preparation for Fieldwork: Issues and Challenges (2)Ethical Considerations, Risks, Biases (general issues and  potential problems specifically related to students PhD projects)Reading: A.Bryman, "Ethic and Politics in Social Research," in idem, Social Research Methods.  Pp.466-88; D. Fetterman, "Walking Softly Through the Wilderness" in idem,  Ethnography (Course Reader);  P.Liamputtong, Performing Cross-Cultural Research, chaps 2 and 4 (Course Reader); S. Jones, Doing Internet Research,  chaps. 9 and 12 (Course Reader); E. Morawska, "A Historical Ethnography in the Making: A (Self-) Reflexive Account" (Course Reader)
  
  
  
  


• Week 20
  
  
  
  • Students present their  data gathering plans Open discussion
  
  
  
  


• Week 21
  
  
  
  • Study week
  
  
  
  


• Week 22
  
  
  
  • Students present their revised/expanded research designsOpen  discussion
  
  
  
  


• Week 23
  
  
  
  • Students present their revised/expanded reviews of literatureOpen discussion
  
  
  
  


• Week 24
  
  
  
  • Preparation for the June board meeting
  
  
  
  


• Week 25
  
  
  
  • Students' issues and concerns/open discussion
  
  
  • Readings:(i)
    
    
    
    • In Waterstone Bookstore and Sloman Library: -
    
    
    • Charles Ragin, Constructing Social Research (Sage 2011) -
    
    
    • John R. Hall, Cultures of Inquiry (Cambridge U. Press 1999) -
    
    
    • John Goldthrope, On Sociology: Numbers, Narratives, and the Integration of Research and Theory (Oxford U. Press 2000) -
    
    
    • Alan Bryman, Social Research Methods (Oxford U. Press, 2006) 
    
    
    • (ii)1st Year PhD Course Reader (to be purchased in the Sociology office)
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  

Weekly 2 hour seminars